ATP Tour

Djokovic: Sinner, Alcaraz will eventually face ‘that Djoker spot’

As Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz look to effect another Grand Slam season shutout at the US Open, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is sure that, sooner or later, the duopoly will be disrupted.

Reflecting on his path to the greatest haul of Grand Slam titles that ran through the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal era, the 38-year-old Serbian said that no trend lasts forever.

“I think their rivalry is amazing. What they have done in the previous two years is remarkable for both of these players,” Djokovic noted in his pre-tournament media interview Friday. “Particularly this year the finals that we have seen them play against each other in Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and a few other tournaments, it's just amazing for our sport.

“You have obviously other young players that are definitely going to challenge them, and hopefully somebody can get in the mix. Rune was there, and he kind of goes up and down. Fonseca. There are players that are able to have that Djoker spot, the third spot.

“I kind of empathise with the third guy, because I was in those shoes with Federer and Nadal. I want to see a third guy coming in (smiling).”

On the flip side of the coin, Djokovic said that the dominance of the top two players in the PIF ATP Rankings had elevated the sport to new heights.

“On a global sport stage, these are the types of encounters and rivalries people get very excited about. When it comes to individual sports like ours or boxing, Formula 1 racing, whatever it is, golf, people love to see rivalries. I think their rivalry is, without a doubt, the best one we have in the moment. And it looks like it's going to stay like that for some time.”

Sinner and Alcaraz have won the past seven Grand Slam titles. Seeking to build on his record 24 majors, Djokovic has been a victim of the pair in four Slams during the past two seasons.

Djokovic fell to Sinner in the semi-finals of Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year. Alcaraz stopped him in the Wimbledon final in 2024 (after also doing it in 2023). Sinner also got him in the 2024 Australian Open.

Djokovic’s fourth US Open title in 2023 was his most recent major trophy. His five-set loss to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final that year cost him the calendar-year Grand Slam.

Djokovic’s Grand Slam record is 392-54 according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. At last year’s US Open he was overpowered by Alexei Popyrin in the third round. This year he faces #NextGenATP American Learner Tien in the first round. He is seeded to meet Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals and Alcaraz in the semi-finals.

The man who has spent a record 428 weeks at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings has not played since Wimbledon. But he is happy with his preparation going into the Open.

“[I may be] 'cold' in terms of the matches, official matches… but I have put in a lot of training in last three, four weeks. I decided not to play because I wanted to spend more time with my family.”

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